Breadboard Circuit

Would you guys like to build a circuit?

Supplies

Here are all the components you need to set up this circuit. Three red LEDs. Three blue LEDs or Other LED's of your choice. Two 100 hundred ohms resistors. Two one million ohms resistors. One 1 microfarad capacitor. One 0.1 microfarad capacitor. Two 555 timer ICs. Ten jumper wires. 9V for the power source. A breadboard to connect everything together. The 555 timer IC comes with eight pins.

Don't need to read this, but,

How does a 555 timer work?

There is a notch or a dot on the chip's body. Starting from the top left is pin 1 which is ground or the ground supply. Pin 2 is trigger. It is used to start the timing interval in both monostable and astable modes. Pin 3 is output. It delivers the result of the timer's operation,based on its mode (either monostable, astable, or bistable). Pin 4 is reset. It is used to reset the 555 timer's internal flip-flop. Pin 5 is control. It allows you to control the threshold voltage levels that the internal comparators use to set and reset the flip-flop. Pin 6 is threshold. It monitors the voltage of the capacitor connected to the circuit. Pin 7 is discharge. It controls the charge and discharge cycle of the timing capacitor. Pin 8 is Vcc. It is responsible for supplying the power to the IC.

Step 1: Starting the Connection

Let's set up the circuit step by step. Start by placing the 555 timer IC onto the breadboard. Remember, the pins are numbered counterclockwise, starting from the top left. Refer to the later circuit diagram if you have any questions about the circuit connections. Insert the 555 timer in the middle of the breadboard. Insert the second 555 timer in the middle of the breadboard. Place it below the first 555 timer. Since there are two 555 timers, their cable connections should be identical.

A jumper wire connects Pin 1 or ground to the negative rail. Do the same on the second 555 timer. A jumper wire connects Pin 8 or Vcc to the positive rail. Do the same on the second 555 timer. Use a jumper wire to connect Pin 2 or trigger to Pin 6 or threshold. Do the same on the second 555 timer. Use a jumper wire to connect Pin 4 or reset to Pin 8 or Vcc. Do the same on the second 555 timer. Bend the ends of a million ohms resistor. Insert a million ohms resistor to Pin 3 or output and Pin 6 or threshold. Do the same on the second 555 timer.

Step 2:

Turn the breadboard to the side. Connect a jumper wire from the left side of the breadboard to Pin 3 or output on the second 555 timer. Connect a jumper wire from Pin 3 or output on the first 555 timer to the right side of the breadboard. Bend the ends of a 100 ohms resistor. Insert the left leg of the 100 ohms resistor into the left side of the breadboard and the right leg into Pin 3 or output. The left leg is one row above the previous jumper wire.

Insert the left leg of another 100 ohms resistor into Pin 3 or output and the right leg into the right side of the breadboard. The right leg is one row below the previous jumper wire. Insert a red LED in the same rows as the previous resistor and jumper wire. The positive or longer leg is on the right side. Insert another red LED in the same rows as the previous LED. Insert a third red LED in the same rows as the previous LED. Insert a blue LED on the other end. The positive or longer leg is on the left side. The blue LED is on the same rows as the gray jumper wire and the 100 ohms resistor. Insert a second blue LED in the same rows as the previous blue LED. Insert a third blue LED in the same rows as the previous LED.

Step 3:

Insert a one microfarad capacitor into Pin 2 or trigger and the negative rail. This capacitor is connected to the first 555 timer. Insert a 0.1 microfarad capacitor into Pin 2 or trigger and the negative rail. This capacitor is connected to the second 555 timer. Turn the breadboard to the vertical position. It's time to connect the power supply. Connect the negative lead of the battery holder to the negative rail.

Connect the positive lead of the battery holder to the positive rail. The red and blue LEDs light up which is a good sign. We have successfully completed the circuit.

Step 4: Breaking Down the Schematic

Breaking down the schematic

Let’s break down the circuit step by step Here, we have two 555 timers, each configured in astable mode. Timer 1 controls the red LEDs, while Timer 2 controls the blue LEDs. The resistors and capacitors set the timing interval for each timer. Pin 3, the output of Timer 1, drives the red LEDs. When the output is high, the LEDs light up. Similarly, Timer 2’s output on Pin 3 drives the blue LEDs. Both timers share the same power supply, connected to Pin 8 for Vcc and Pin 1 for ground. The alternating on-off pattern is achieved by the square wave outputs of the timers, giving us that classic police light effect.